Teratomorphism of Pinus sylvestris L. pollen as the bioindicator of atmospheric air pollution of the Subarctic industrial city

Murmansk Arctic University, Department of Biology and Bioresources, 183 010, Sportivnaya Street, 13, Murmansk, Russia

^* Corresponding author: n.v.vasilevskaya@gmail.com

Abstract

The article presents the results of the palynological analysis of Pinus sylvestris L. pollen of the industrial city of Apatity, located above the Arctic Circle (Murmansk region, Russia). The city is in the impact zone of the Apatit mining and processing complex, which is one of the world’s leaders of producing of phosphate raw materials for mineral fertilizers. Four experimental sites were laid in the city of Apatity and its vicinity. At the end of June microstrobiles with mature pollen were collected and fixed in a 40% alcohol solution. The studies were carried out by light microscopy. As the result, 23 types of teratomorphic pollen were identified. The content of teratomorphic pollen in the samples is very high (80.4–90.4%). The pollen grains of normal, dwarf and giant sizes with various anomalies of sacci are most common. The formation of a large quantity of genetically abnormal forms of P. sylvestris pollen and the peculiarities of its teratology indicate high level of environmental pollution of the city of Apatity by toxic compounds. The pollen of P. sylvestris can be used as biomonitor for detecting of the phytotoxic and mutagenic effects of pollutants.